CHAMPAIGN, Ill. -- Two Illinois basketball players were injured when their car went off the road and slammed into a tree.

Brian Carlwell was at Carle Foundation Hospital in Urbana Tuesday in serious condition with a severe concussion, sports information director Kent Brown said. Jamar Smith was treated at the hospital for a concussion and released.

Illinois coach Bruce Weber spent the night in the hospital with Carlwell, a 6-foot-11 freshman center.

"We just hope and pray Brian is going to be OK," Weber said before Carlwell's condition was upgraded from critical.

Police cited Smith for improper lane usage, Brown said, and campus police said Tuesday further action is possible depending on the investigation.

Smith, a 6-3 sophomore guard, was driving Monday night on the outskirts of the campus when his car crossed the center line and struck a tree, university police said. It was snowing heavily in the area, but it wasn't known if that contributed to the accident.

Carlwell's parents traveled from their suburban Chicago home to see their 19-year-old son Tuesday, Brown said.

Brown wasn't sure if the rest of the team had been told of the accident or if the Illini would practice later in the day. The team practiced Monday night and next plays Sunday when it hosts Northwestern. Weber canceled his regular Wednesday news conference.

It wasn't known when either player will be available to the team.

"The main concern here is the health of those guys and not playing status or any of that has been determined," Brown said.

"Certainly, our thoughts are on the health and recovery of our two student-athletes and in supporting Coach Weber and our basketball program," Illinois athletic director Ron Guenther said in a statement Tuesday.

Champaign, Ill. - "Late Monday evening, men's basketball players Jamar Smith and Brian Carlwell were involved in a car accident near the 2000 block of South First Street in Champaign. The car Jamar was driving crossed the center lane and hit a tree. Brian was taken to Carle Foundation Hospital in Urbana where he was admitted in critical condition with a severe concussion. His condition has since been upgraded to serious. Jamar also suffered a concussion and was treated and released from the hospital.

"Certainly, our thoughts are on the health and recovery of our two student-athletes, and in supporting Coach Weber and our basketball program. We will issue any updates should there be a change in the condition of the two players."

Illini basketball players Brian Carlwell and Jamar Smith were involved in a one-car automobile accident late Monday night. Carlwell was listed in critical condition with a severe concussion as of Monday morning. Smith, who also suffered a concussion, was treated and released from Carle Foundation Hospital in Urbana.

Illinois basketball players Brian Carlwell and Jamar Smith both suffered severe concussions when a car Smith was driving skidded into a tree just before midnight Monday, an Illinois basketball spokesman has confirmed.

Smith was treated and released at Carle Foundation Hospital in Urbana. Carlwell was admitted to the hospital for treatment and remains in serious condition in intensive care after being admitted to the hospital in critical condition.

The accident occurred on South First Street in Champaign, between the University of Illinois and Smith's off-campus apartment, Assistant Athletic Director Kent Brown said.

Smith was cited for improper lane usage, Brown said, and campus police say further action is possible depending on the outcome of the investigation. Brown also confirmed that Smith then drove the car with Carlwell inside back to his apartment in Savoy. Ambulances arrived at the apartment to take both athletes to the hospital.

Brown said he could not comment on what contributed to the crash, although the winter storm may have been a factor. He said he could not comment on whether Smith, 19, had been drinking.

"I cannot and I would not confirm that. It's a legal matter," Brown said. "Our concern right now is the health of these two guys."

NORMAL – Ronnie Carlwell was smiling, laughing and being his usual 6-foot-10 jovial self with his Illinois State basketball teammates before practice Tuesday afternoon at Redbird Arena. It was quite a change from Carlwell’s mood earlier in the day.

Carlwell said he received a call about 1:30 a.m. from his aunt at the campus apartment he shares with Boo Richardson, Anthony Slack and Julius Moor.

Carlwell’s brother, Brian, a freshman on the University of Illinois basketball team, was involved in an automobile accident along with Illinois’ Jamar Smith in Champaign.

Brian Carlwell, a passenger in Smith’s car, was initially listed in critical condition with a severe concussion at Carle Foundation Hospital in Urbana.

Smith was treated and released with a concussion.

“It was rough. I couldn’t sleep the whole night,” said Ronnie Carlwell. “I was up to about 5:45 and fell asleep. I got everyone up at 6:30 and found out he was doing a little bit better. I found out about 10:45 he would be fine. “That just made the day for me.”

Brian Carlwell should be out of the hospital in a couple days, said his brother. Ronnie Carlwell added his brother’s basketball future shouldn’t be affected.

thats good to see they are going to make it out alright. those pictures are pretty messed up, especially with him being 6"11, his head has to be on the roof

__________________
Our trip was different, it was to be a classic affirmation of everything right and true in the national character. A gross physical salute to the fantastic possibilities of life in this country, but only for those with true grit. And we are chock full of that man!
Hunter S. Thompson

Carlwell upgraded as crash probe widens
Illini's Smith may be in trouble for not making 911 call
February 15, 2007
BY HERB GOULD Staff Reporter

The picture looked much brighter Wednesday for Brian Carlwell. The Illinois freshman center was upgraded to fair condition and moved out of intensive care after suffering a severe concussion in a one-car accident late Monday in Champaign.

Carlwell, the only passenger in a car being driven by sophomore guard Jamar Smith, is expected to be released from Carle Foundation Hospital in Urbana on Friday.

''He'll be fine,'' Carlwell's brother, Ronnie, a senior center at Illinois State, said when asked about Brian's long-term recovery prospects.

The situation remains murky, though, for Smith, who was driving his grandparents' 1996 Lexus when it swerved and slammed into a tree in the 2100 block of South First Street on the Illinois campus at 11:40 p.m. Monday. Smith also was taken to Carle, where he was treated and released for a concussion.

Smith -- who was northbound and headed away from his apartment, about 1½ miles south of the accident scene -- has been cited for improper lane usage and could face further charges after the completion of a police investigation.

Illini coach Bruce Weber released a statement after a closed practice Wednesday afternoon.

''The past few days have been very difficult for the Illinois basketball family,'' said Weber, who will keep practice closed to the media for the rest of the week. ''Fortunately, Brian Carlwell ... is expected to make a full recovery and should be discharged from the hospital within the next two days.

''Jamar Smith has obviously been very shaken by the situation and went home to Peoria this afternoon to be with his family. We feel that support from his family is the most important thing for Jamar at this time.''

With the aid of his grandparents, Salmena and Leroy Smith, who basically raised him, Smith hired Champaign attorney Mark Lipton.

''[Smith] is very concerned about his teammate, Brian Carlwell,'' Lipton told the Champaign News-Gazette. ''That has been his sole focus.''

Champaign, Ill. - "It has been mutually agreed upon between myself and Jamar Smith and his family, that he sit out the remainder of this season so that he can focus all of his attention on the physical, emotional, academic and other related issues he will face in the coming weeks. As I said Wednesday, this is a very difficult time for Jamar. Our coaches, players and program will continue to support him as he deals with this situation."